CHICAGO – Governor George H. Ryan today announced that the federal
Department of Education will award the state of Illinois nearly $33 million
in grants to help schools and school districts improve children’s
reading achievement in the K-3 levels as well as to fund professional
development programs for educators.

This grant,
awarded by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, is the first part of
a multi-year Reading
First grant designed to implement scientifically proven methods of
instruction to help improve the reading achievement levels of children.
Reading First was passed into law by Congress under the “No Child
Left Behind Act” of 2001.

“We
all know that the ability to read proficiently is a basic skill everyone
should have. This starts with children at the youngest age,” Governor
Ryan said. “Lura Lynn and I have always believed in this idea through
the Illinois Reads program
and Futures for Kids. This grant
will help brighten the futures of Illinois’ most needy children.“

The Illinois
State Board of Education has identified 54 school districts based
on poverty level and test scores that are eligible to receive portions
of the Reading First grant. The geographic spread of eligible school districts
ranges from the Chicago Public Schools to the Rock Island School District
to school districts on the southern tip of Illinois.

School districts
awarded with grants will use the monies to purchase materials and to provide
assessments that have been scientifically researched and proven by the
National Reading Panel to raise the reading standards of children by teaching
them the fundamental skills they need to learn to read proficiently.